Mangold delivers message to Lolo
Jets center Nick Mangold shows off his Tim Tebow-related message to U.S. hurdler Lolo Jones. Credit: Kimberley A. Martin
Nick Mangold’s last ditch effort was a stroke of creative genius, but even he admits his matchmaking days are likely over.
Sporting a black T-shirt with the words “He likes chocolate milk @LoloJones,” the Jets center took once last public stand for the union of teammate, backup quarterback Tim Tebow, and U.S. hurdler Lolo Jones.
“I’ll probably give up here shortly,” Mangold said. “It’s not my calling. I want to go back to golf.”
Mangold said Tebow saw the shirt and “chuckled at it, like I expected. A little light humor for the end of May.”
The Jets center wouldn’t reveal the company behind the humorous T-shirt, nor how much he spent on it. “I commissioned it,” he said. “It was commissioned just like a Navy ship.”
Asked if he knows Jones, the Jets center said: “Nope. That makes it funnier.”
Mangold and Jones did, however, trade tweets on Wednesday, after he said on NFL Network that his foreseeable goal was to get Tebow and Jones – both outspoken virgins – together. And the Twitter exchange between Mangold and Jones sparked renewed interest in Tebow’s love life among the single ladies of America.
On Tuesday, Mangold tweeted: “I'm trying to get @timtebow to accept that he and @lolojones are a match made in heaven. #Lobow”
Jones later responded: “@nickmangold thanks Nick but i actually heard tebow has a girlfriend he just isn't saying it publicly. the search continues...”
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As for Mangold’s decision not to travel to London to see his sister compete in the Olympics, head coach Rex Ryan said he’ll try to change his center’s mind.
To Ryan’s surprise, Mangold turned down his offer to be excused from training camp so he can see his Holley Mangold compete for the U.S. weightlifting team. The coach called it a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance and said “it’s an incredible opportunity for her, and him as well.” But Ryan isn’t hopeful Mangold will change his mind.
The center explained his decision to reporters on Thursday, saying: “That’s a long jump over the pond in the middle of August. We’re going to make sure I can watch it and everything and support her as best I can, just like everybody else that can’t go over there. It’s disappointing. If it was a week earlier I would have been there. But that’s just how the scheduling works out.”
